Years after completion, Bargolai sub-health centre lies shut; Jal Jeevan Mission faces flak in Assam’s Margherita

Serious questions are being raised over the implementation of key public welfare schemes in Assam’s Margherita Assembly constituency, as the Bargolai Telkhad Basti Sub-Health Centre continues to remain unopened nearly nine years after its completion, while residents allege that the Centre’s flagship Jal Jeevan Mission has failed to deliver safe drinking water across large parts of the region.

The sub-health centre building at Bargolai Telkhad Basti, located under the 83rd Margherita Legislative Assembly Constituency in Tinsukia district, was completed in 2016. However, despite the passage of several years, the facility has never been made operational, leaving local residents without access to basic primary healthcare services.

The abandoned structure, now overgrown with weeds and vegetation, stands as a stark reminder of what locals describe as administrative apathy. Residents have demanded the immediate opening of the health centre, stating that the lack of nearby medical facilities has forced people to travel long distances even for basic treatment.

The situation has also reignited criticism of the government’s claims of transformative reforms in the health sector. Locals allege that several areas continue to suffer from an acute shortage of doctors and healthcare workers, while in other places, newly constructed health facilities remain locked and unused.

At the same time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious “Har Ghar Nal, Har Ghar Jal” initiative under the Jal Jeevan Mission has come under sharp criticism in the Margherita constituency. Residents of Bargolai, Ledo, Lekhapani, Jagun, Margherita town and adjoining tea garden areas allege that they are yet to receive regular supply of clean drinking water, despite the scheme being implemented with public funds.

According to locals, the Jal Jeevan Mission has failed to deliver tangible benefits in the 83rd Margherita Assembly constituency for reasons that remain unclear. They claim that even years after the scheme’s launch, many households are still waiting for a single drop of potable tap water.

Warning of political consequences, residents said that if authorities fail to provide satisfactory answers and take corrective action, the electorate would respond appropriately in the forthcoming Assembly elections.